Joanne has over 25 years’ experience of successfully winning and delivering Government funded programmes, implementing transformational change and improving performance across the public and third sectors. She has proven ability as both a CEO and consultant in leading individual organisations and partnerships of diverse stakeholders to implement robust infrastructures that deliver their vision and goals. Joanne was named two years running as one of the Natwest Top 100 Women in Social Enterprise, which recognises the most inspiring and influential women in social enterprise and mission driven businesses in the UK. Joanne is passionate about the benefits of, and equalities in, sport. She is delighted to be the CEO of UK Deaf Sport and work with the Board and partners across the deaf community to ensure that there are more opportunities for deaf people to participate in sport and physical activity throughout their lives and more deaf athletes performing on the world stage.

Hannah is UK Deaf Sport’s Marketing and Communications Officer. She is completing a Level 3 apprenticeship in Digital Marketing. Hannah is deaf and has worked with the deaf community since she was 17, working at deaf schools providing classroom support as well working with babies and young children at nurseries and clubs. She has also worked at Deaf Connections in Scotland for two years as a lead befriender working with deaf families and children. In her free time, Hannah likes to go on walks with her Goldendoodle Max, and enjoys socialising with her family and friends.

Denise has over 30 years’ experience of working in quality, compliance and governance. Denise initially worked in early years and childhood development with local authorities before going to work for Ofsted in 2001. Denise’s first role was managing several teams of early years inspectors in the South East region, before becoming the Quality and Training Manager for the Early Childhood Directorate, eventually becoming one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI). In 2016 Denise went to work as the Risk and Quality Manager for 3SC, a small social enterprise that manages DWP and MoJ contracts. Denise has joined UKDS as the Governance and Insight Manager. Away from work Denise loves walking her Cavapoochon along the many miles of sandy beach on the beautiful Lincolnshire coast and enjoys line-dancing and spending time with her four grandchildren.